Shutdown cripples life in Nepal

Kathmandu, June 8 (ANI): Normal life in the Terai and eight districts of Gandaki and Dhaulagiri zones of Nepal has been paralysed on Monday due to the shutdown called by the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and the Maoist-affiliated Tamuwan Swayatta Rajya Samiti (TSWR) respectively.

The MJF has called for a shutdown in the Terai districts protesting against Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s decision to appoint Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar as the deputy prime minister without the party’s recommendation.

The TSWR has called the shutdown in eight districts of Gandaki and Dhaulagiri zones as part of the on going protests by Maoists and its sister organisations against the President’s move to block the Maoist-led government’s decision to sack Army Chief General Rookmangud Katawal

However, the curfew imposed by the district administration of Kavre in and around Banepa after violent clashes between the locals and the activists of Maoist-affiliated Tamsaling Rastriya Mukti Morcha (TRMM) in the course of the shutdown called by the latter in ten districts, Sunday, has been lifted from Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nepal discussed the House deadlock with Speaker Subas Nembang and Chief Whips of the UCPN (Maoist), the Nepali Congress, and the CPN-UML at the Constituent Assembly building on Sunday.

UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya said the Prime Minister expressed co-mmitment to address the concerns raised by Maoists in the House, but stressed it should be done without hurting the prestige of any side.

Nepal has asked the UML Chief Whip to negotiate with other parties and come up with a solution to end the House impasse.

Maoist Chief Whip Post Bahadur Bogati has said the recent moves of the UML-led government shows it is not in favour of consensus. He objected to the Cabinet’s decision to reinstate the eight brigadier generals of Nepal Army whose case is still at the Supreme, Nepalnews reported. (ANI)